University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center
Bur Press records
1997ms410
1.7 Cubic Feet
5 boxes
1933-1966
The Bur Press records (dated 1933-1966; 1.7 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise manuscripts, proofs, orders, correspondence, and photographs that document the work of the Bur Press, a small private printing press in Lexington, Kentucky in the mid-20th century.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 1974
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Historical note
The Bur Press was a private printing press founded by Carolyn Reading Hammer and Amelia King Buckley in 1943 in Lexington, Kentucky. Harriet McDonald and Mary Spears later joined the press to create artwork and perform bookbinding. The Bur Press was the first press of its kind in Lexington to be operated solely by women and published a series of four Kentucky monographs and a children's book. Among the books they printed were: The Education of a Gentleman: Jefferson Davis at Transylvania, 1821-1824 by Margaret Newnan Wagers (1943); Rafinesque in Lexington, by Huntley Dupre (1945); Sonnets by Lucia Clark Markham (1944) Bitter Harvest: Miss Laura Clay's Suffrage Work by Clavia Goodman (1946); Mr. Poof's Discovery by Rena and John Jacob Niles (1947); and Back Streets and Pine Trees: The Work of John McMurtry by Clay Lancaster (1956). These were each printed in limited editions of 200 to 300 copies.
Carolyn Reading Hammer was born in Paris, Kentucky, in 1911. She attended Transylvania University for her undergraduate studies and Columbia University for her graduate studies in Library Sciences. She worked at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and then later the University of Kentucky Libraries until her retirement in 1976. She was the Head of Acquisitions and, later, the Curator of Rare Books. Hammer was married to Austrian-born printer Victor Karl Hammer (1882-1967), a well-regarded printer and typeface creator. In addition to the Bur Press, she founded the Anvil Press, High Noon Press, and the King Library Press. She died in 2001.
Amelia Pickerell King was born in Kentucky in 1908 to Harry Smith King and Isabel Pickerell. She married Monroe Leer Buckley in 1933. While her husband became an attorney, Amelia became a librarian. She was a longtime librarian at the Keeneland Association Library in Lexington, Kentucky. Her book The Keeneland Association Library: A Guide to the Collection, which was published in 1958 by the University of Kentucky Press, gives a bibliographic overview of the collection at that time.
Preferred Citation
1997ms410 : [identification of item], Bur Press records, 1933-1966, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Scope and Contents
The Bur Press records (dated 1933-1966; 1.7 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise manuscripts, proofs, orders, correspondence, and photographs that document the work of the Bur Press, a small private printing press in Lexington, Kentucky in the mid-20th century. The collection is divided into two series that reflect the overall work of the Bur Press and specific printing projects they produced. The first series contains records related to building the press such as their sketches for the logo design, orders for presses and type, promotional materials, and reference clippings on rare books and private presses. Photographs in this series depict Carolyn Reading, Amelia King Buckley, Harriette Holliday, and Mary Spears at work at the press. The project series is organized chronologically by project and includes author correspondence, manuscripts, proofs, book orders, reviews for the book and calendar projects. The photographs in this series are related to the book Back Streets and Pine Trees by Clay Lancaster, and depict churches and buildings likely designed by John McMurtry.
Conditions Governing Use
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
American literature -- 20th century.
Architecture -- Kentucky
Artists' books -- United States.
Artists -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
Bookbinding -- History.
Printing.
Printing -- Kentucky -- History.
Printing presses
Private presses -- United States.
Women's studies -- United States -- 20th century.
Bur Press operational and business recordsSeries I.1941-1966Press name and logo sketches194211 Correspondence1945-195112Florist cards, Christmas card, notes, Carlyle quote print1941-196613Kentucky Library Association event luncheon tags, local indexes in Kentucky Libraries title page194114Catalog requests and outstanding orders1943-195915Supply orders1941-194216Supply orders1943-194617Supply orders1947-195818Bank records1953-195919Promotional materials sent to the Bur Pressundated110Bur Press photographscirca 1947Carolyn Reading standing at printing presscirca 19471111Carolyn Reading and Amelia Buckley at presscirca 19471112Harriette Holliday, Amelia Buckley, Carolyn Reading, and Mary Spears at Bur Presscirca 19471113Carolyn Reading choosing typefacecirca 19471114Clippings on the Bur Press1947112Clippings on rare books and privates presses1942-1948113Bur Press print projectsSeries II.1933-1960Kentucky CalendarSub-Series A.1941-1953Correspondence1941-1946114Correspondence1947-195321Copyright certificates, correspondence1942-195122Tauber-Tube Binding correspondence1942-195223Clippings and advertisements1942-195024The Education of a Gentleman: Jefferson Davis at Transylvania, 1821-1824 by Margaret Newnan WagersSub-Series B.1941-1948Correspondence1941-194425Page proofs1942-194326Numbered copies listundated27Orders1943-194828Reviews and review requests194329Budget, notes, florist cards, address list1943210Rafinesque in Lexington by Huntley DupreSub-Series C.1943-1958Huntley Dupre correspondence1943-1945211Correspondence and clipping1943-1945212Page proofs194531Page proofs with corrections194532Numbered copies list, financial records, listsundated33Orders1943-195834Sales records1945-194635Sonnets by Lucia Clark MarkhamSub-Series D.1933-1944Bur Press copy number 6194436Lucia Clark Markham correspondence1933-194337Correspondence194438Book orders194439Numbered copies list1944310Expenses1944311Reviews, mailing lists, poems1944312Back Streets and Pine Trees: The Work of John McMurtry by Clay LancasterSub-Series E.1946-1958PhotographsundatedView of the city of Lexingtonundated415Commonwealth Distilleryundated416Charles Tewes houseundated417Second Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, architectural rendering phogotraphundated418First Baptist Church undated419Research correspondence and notes1946-194942Correspondence1947-195743Budget and Bur Press logo printundated44Mailing listsundated45Order form and orders1953-195646Orders 1956-195747Orders1958-undated48Numbered copies listundated49Award recognitions, review, clippings1956410Bitter Harvest by Clavia GoodmanSub-Series F.1945-1960Correspondence1946-196051Manuscript1945-194652Page proofs194553Orders1945-195654Numbered copies listundated55Review request, reviews, announcements1946-194756Mr. Poof's Discovery by Rena and James Jacob Niles; illustrated by Harriet MacDonaldSub-Series G.1947-1951Manuscripts with editsundated57Correspondence1947-194858Orders1947-195159Announcements and reviews1947-1949510